Rosalie Unit

A decision now needs to be made as to how exactly the HSE run Rosalie Unit in Castlerea is to develop, according to Minister for Communications, local deputy Denis Naughten.

At a meeting yesterday in the unit with the Minister for the Elderly Jim Daly and attended by local public representatives and HSE representatives, seven different options were presented as to how the unit might progress.

At present the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea is a residential home for about 12 residents with dementia.

A local campaign group has worked hard to keep the facility open, after the HSE had stated its intention to close it some months ago.

However that decision was reversed and Minister Naughten received a firm commitment from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that the unit as a residential facility for patients with mental health issues, would remain open. Leo Varadkar had given the same commitment in 2015 when he was Minister for Health and the future of the unit was under threat.

Deliver on your promises to the people of Roscommon and keep the Rosalie Unit open in Castlerea. That’s the simple message that a delegation from Castlerea will deliver to Ministers Simon Harris and Jim Brady when they meet in Dublin on Wednesday evening.

The Rosalie unit in Castlerea, is a residential facility for elderly people with psychiatric conditions. The facility had catered for up to 34 residents in recent years, but is now down to 12 people, with no new admissions for some time.

Three years ago, when news of the possible closure of the facility emerged, the people of Castlerea and surrounding areas were given a commitment by the then Minister Kathleen Lynch that the unit would not close.

But according to Liam Walsh, a member of the delegation travelling to Dublin on Wednesday, and whose mother is a resident of the Rosalie Unit, the future of the unit remains in the balance.

He spoke to Midwest News today about why the delegation is travelling to Dublin for the third time this year in an effort to retain the unit.

A family advocate, who travelled to Dublin yesterday for a meeting on the future of the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea, has described the events as a shambles.

HSE management failed to attend the meeting between a local delegation and Ministers Harris and Daly over the future of the unit.

A local delegation made up of Oireachtas members, family advocates and local councillors were due to meet with Ministers Harris and Daly and Executive Clinical Director for HSE West Amanda Burke and Chief Health Officer Tony Canavan. However Ms Burke and Mr Canavan were not in attendance.

This was despite a formal request from Senator Maura Hopkins’ office requesting they attend so a clearer picture could be gained about what is happening with the Rosalie Unit.

It was agreed that the meeting would be reconvened and Senator Hopkins wants a new date confirmed by the end of today.

Liam Walsh’s mother is a resident of the Rosalie Unit and he was party of the family delegation that travelled to Dublin yesterday. He told Midwest News they are beyond frustrated

Clinical assessments on the 12 residents of the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea were completed in May and were not paused as had been the understanding.

That’s the update given to Fine Gael Senator Maura Hopkins by Chief Executive Officer of the HSE Tony Canavan this week.

Concerns were raised with Senator Hopkins by family advocate Liam Walsh yesterday, that the clinical assessments were continuing, despite the fact that Minister Jim Daly had requested they be paused.

Mr Canavan told Senator Hopkins that he had replied to Minister Daly’s letter requesting the pause and told him that he was not possible for him to agree to a pause on the assessments of the residents.

He also said the clinical assessments were in fact completed in May of this year and now an independent review of those assessments is now taking place.

The HSE has no intention of admitting new residents to the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea. That was clearly stated just last week by HSE Chief Health Officer Tony Canavan at a meeting of the unit that was attended by Ministers, public representatives and local interests.

At present the Rosalie Unit is a HSE residential home for about 12 residents with dementia.

A local campaign group has worked hard to keep the facility open, after the HSE had stated its intention to close it some months ago.

However that decision was reversed and local Minister Denis Naughten received a firm commitment from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that the unit as a residential facility for patients with mental health issues, would remain open. Leo Varadkar had given the same commitment in 2015 when he was Minister for Health and the future of the unit was under threat.

But despite the promises and commitments to date the HSE are insisting that no further residents are being admitted to the facility and instead are providing seven options that it sees as potentially the way forward for the unit.

Yesterday Minister for Health Simon Harris was in Boyle for the opening of a new Primary Care Centre and he met a delegation supporting the retention of the Rosalie Unit as a residential facility for patients with specific mental health needs. The Minister outlined his frustration and dismay at the lack of progress on this matter and he again reiterated the government’s commitment to its retention.

Local Senator Maura Hopkins was at the meeting last week between the HSE and public representatives. She has been telling Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley why all interested parties are frustrated with the HSE’s response to date.

A Roscommon Senator says she is very frustrated after HSE management failed to attend a meeting between a local delegation and Ministers Harris and Daly over the future of the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea.

Fine Gael Senator Maura Hopkins says she is very frustrated following the events of yesterday evening.

A local delegation made up of Oireachtas members, family advocates and local councillors were due to meet with Ministers Harris and Daly and Executive Clinical Director for HSE West Amanda Burke and Chief Health Officer Tony Canavan. However Ms Burke and Mr Canavan were not in attendance.

This was despite a formal request from Senator Hopkins’ office requesting they attend so a clearer picture could be gained about what is happening with the Rosalie Unit.

It was agreed that the meeting would be reconvened and Senator Hopkins wants a new date confirmed by the end of today.

A deputation from Castlerea were planning to travel to Dublin later today to meet with the Health Minister Simon Harris and the Minister for Mental Health Jim Daly, in relation to the future of the Rosalie unit in Castlerea.

However, Minister Daly has requested that the meeting be postponed, due to diary issues.

It’s now been rescheduled for three weeks time -Wed 28th March.

There are major concerns about the future of the home, which accommodates 13 elderly people with Alzheimers and dementia, after the HSE said the facility is not part of its long-term plans.

No new admissions have been taken into the home for the past year and a half.

However, a campaign is underway locally to retain the Rosalie unit, with thousands of people signing a petition to that effect.

In the Dail yesterday the Minister for the elderly Jim Daly, indicated that the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea will not be closed down as a HSE facility, but may no longer serve as a residential facility for elderly people with alzheimers or dementia.

He was responding to another question on the facility’s future submitted by local Fianna Fail deputy Eugene Murphy.

Last Friday, Tony Canavan of the HSE told oireachtas members that a report on the unit, that is home to twelve residents, is strongly indicating that the residents needs would be better met in an alternative location.

Residents and their families strongly disagree, but Mr Canavan said that while the unit as it stands looks set for closure, he has passed on the report to a medical expert to review before a final decision is made.

Councillor Murphy told Midwest News this afternoon, that yesterday’s statement by the Minister appears to concur with Mr Canavan's.

The Government has confirmed that committments given in 2015 in relation to the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea will be honoured.

Roscommon-based Minister Denis Naughten has received a letter from the Minister for Mental Health & Older People Jim Daly, confirming that the Rosalie Unit will continue to form part of the service delivery for older people.

This comes as a welcome development for the residents of the unit and their families, as a senior HSE manager had indicated recently that the facility may close.

Minister Daly points out that the matter of the best interests of the current residents of the Rosalie Unit is a separate issue, and independent assessments of each resident will be carried out to assess the most appropriate long-term care plan for each individual.

That's perfectly acceptable, according to Liam Walsh, who's an advocate on behalf of resident's families.

Following a packed public meeting on the issue again on Monday night in Castlerea, Liam Walsh has welcomed this letter from Minister Daly, which he says is great news for the current residents, and those who might need the unit in the future.

At a packed public meeting last night in Castlerea, Minister Naughten confirmed that the Taoiseach will honour the commitments given in 2015, securing the Rosalie unit as a residential facility,

Confirmation in writing confirming that commitment is expected later today.

Liam Walsh, whose mother is a resident in the Rosalie Unit for some years, told Midwest News this morning that the packed hall was delighted with that news last night.

The Rosalie Unit, a residential facility for people with mental health issues, looked destined to close in the coming weeks, according to the HSE.

A campaign to keep the facility open has been ongoing for some years now.

Mr Walsh told Midwest News this morning that people power appears to have won out in this case.

Minister Naughten had been speaking with the Taoiseach about the Unit’s future earlier yesterday, before attending the public meeting, and he said the Taoiseach assured him that the commitments, given by Leo Varadkar himself, as Health Minister in 2015, to the people of Castlerea concerning the Unit’s future as a residential facility will be upheld.

Mr Walash says they are now awaiting that verbal commitment in writing later today, but he said he is cautiously optimistic that the Rosalie Unit as a residential facility has been secured.

The HSE has been accused of betraying the residents of the Rosalie Unit, a facility for adults with mental health issues in Castlerea, by families who say they will fight plans to close the unit.

Minister for Communications Denis Naughten has confirmed, to the Irish Times, that he will attend a public meeting in the town to night as relatives of those living in Unit reacted angrily to a HSE suggestion that their care needs would be better served elsewhere.

Minister Denis Naughten, lobbied Minister for Health Simon Harris on the Unit’s future last week, and is under pressure locally to keep the facility open to the 12 residents in it at present.

Liam Walsh, whose mother, Breda (83), has been living in the Rosalie Unit since 2009, said Mr Naughten had told a public meeting last February that the unit would not close while he was part of the government.

Mr Naughten lost the Fine Gael whip after voting against the government decision to close the emergency department of Roscommon hospital in 2011.

Recently Tony Canavan of HSE West told a meeting with local representatives that a report completed on the unit indicated that better care for residents could be provided in a different setting and said the unit was set for closure. However, he said before a final decision is made the report was being reviewed by a medical expert.

Mr Walsh pointed out that there were 33 residents in the unit when his mother moved in and said following a decision to stop all new admissions in September 2016, the number had dropped to 12. “They have been trying to close it by stealth,” he insisted.

We believe they want this building for something else, but we are prepared to keep fighting

Mr Naughten confirmed he would raise the issue this week with the Taoiseach and said he would continue to press Mr Harris and Minister of State Jim Daly in relation to the unit.

In response to a query on the unit by Fianna Fail deputy Euergene Murphy last week in the Dail, Minister Jim Daly’s response concurred with the likely closure of the unit as a residential facility.

The public meeting will take place in Hester's Golden Eagle Lounge this evening at 8.30pm

Minister Denis Naughten has welcomed reassurances provided by the HSE’s Tony Canavan today in relation to the future of the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea.

Minister Naughten had written to Minister for Mental Health Jim Daly stating that both Government and HSE policy is clear that the Rosalie Unit has a future which is in all likelihood within the Mental Health services and had sought reassurances in relation to both the residents of the unit and the future of the unit itself.

The HSE has confirmed today that no decision will be taken in relation to the Rosalie Unit until the clinical assessment process has been completed and reviewed.

Mr Canavan also said he can confirm that the Rosalie facility will continue to form part of the service delivery of health care in the Roscommon area, and that if any change of use should arrive from its current use, it will be done in consultation with public representatives and relevant stakeholders for the area.

Minister Naughten says he welcomes the reassurances, and while it will provide some solace for residents and their families, he says we must continue to work with residents, their families and their advocates as well as the local community into the future.

Liam Walsh’s mother is a resident at the Rosalie Unit and he told Midwest News today that it is a welcome development but it does not provide any assurance regarding the long-term future of the Rosalie Unit.

The future of the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea will be discussed at a meeting in Leinster House this evening.

The Minister for Health Simon Harris and Minister for Mental Health Jim Daly will meet with a deputation which will include patient advocates, three local Councillors and Roscommon Oireachtas members.

The meeting was due to take place earlier this month, but was deferred until this evening.

The Rosalie Unit in Castlerea is a long-stay residential unit for elderly patients with Alzheimers and dementia, but there are concerns locally that the HSE is planning to close the unit.

The HSE says the 12 residents in the Rosalie home are being clinically assessed to determine their future care needs, while family members are concerned this may mean moving the residents to other facilities in Mayo or Galway.

No progress was made on securing the future of the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea, following a meeting between local public representatives, family members, HSE officials and Minister Jim Daly on Wednesday night.

According to both Fine Gael Senator Maura Hopkins and family advocate Liam Walsh, the status quo remains and the issue is no further on.

The meeting was attended by Minister Daly, local representatives and Charlie Meehan Head of Mental Health Services and Tony Canavan Chief Health Officer.

It was confirmed by the HSE officials that clinical assessments are continuing on the 12 residents of the unit but the families were informed in letters this week, that these assessments will not contribute the decision on the future plans for the Rosalie Unit but are being used to put care plans in place for residents.

Tony Canavan is due to meet with Minister Daly again after the clinical assessments are complete.

Liam Walsh’s mother is a resident at the Rosalie Unit. He too attended last night’s meeting.

He said it is disappointing that the status quo remains and it is creating anxiety for the residents.

Mr Walsh told Midwest News that when visiting his mother on the day of the meeting, another resident asked him to tell the Minister and HSE officials that they don’t want to leave the unit.

A public meeting will be held in Castlerea next Monday night to discuss the future of the Rosalie Unit, which provides residential care for 12 people with dementia.

It now appears the unit will close, following comments made by Tony Canavan of the HSE on local radio yesterday, and at a meeting with local Oireachtas representatives on Friday last.

Families of the residents being cared for at the Rosalie Unit say they have had little or no engagement with the HSE on the future of the unit- despite Minister Jim Daly saying several months ago that the HSE should engage with local stakeholders before making any decision.

A public meeting will take place in Hester's Golden Eagle Lounge next Monday evening at 8.30 to try and prevent the closure of the Rosalie Care Home.

A public meeting will take place in Castlerea tonight, to discuss the future of the Rosalie Care Home.

The unit currently accommodates 12 elderly patients with Alzheimers and dementia, but the future of the home is in doubt, following an admission recently by the HSE that there will be no new admissions, while families of residents are to be consulted about moving them to other facilities in Castlebar and Ballinasloe.

Liam Walsh, who’s mother Breda is a resident at the Rosalie Home for the past 8 years, has organised tonight’s meeting in Hesters Golden Eagle Lounge at 8pm and is appealing to the local community to come along and join the campaign to try and retain the Rosalie Home – not just for the current residents but for those who will need such mental health facilities in years to come…

A public meeting in Castlerea last night on the future of the Rosalie Unit heard that a now senior Minister had received written confirmation of assurances given in 2015 over the future of the unit.

The meeting was held last night over fears about the future of the unit, which is currently home to 12 elderly patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

The HSE has confirmed there will be no new admissions, while the families of residents are to be consulted about moving them to other facilities in Castlebar and Ballinasloe.

Earlier yesterday a family delegation met with senior HSE official Tony Canavan, who told them that the unit is not in the future plans of the HSE.

In 2015 the Rosalie Unit was in danger of closing but the situation was resolved and assurances were given at that time by Minister Kathleen Lynch and HSE officials about the future and longevity of the unit.

Those assurances have been denied by HSE officials in recent months.

However at last night’s meeting, Minister for Communications Denis Naughten read his notes from that meeting with the Minister in 2015 and also a letter he received from the private secretary to then Minister for Health Leo Varadkar, reiterating those commitments.

Minister Naughten told Midwest News today that he has made representations to the Minister for Health and the HSE in recent days and says he expects that the commitments given in 2015 will be stood by.

The future of the Rosalie Centre in Castlerea now appears very doubtful. That’s according to Roscommon Fianna Fail deputy Eugene Murphy who was among a group who met with Tony Canavan of the HSE in recent days about the facility.

A review of the facility that is home to twelve residents with dementia, has been concluded and Mr Canavan told the meeting that it is indicating strongly that the needs of residents are not being met in the Unit as it stands.

He is now seeking an external view by a medical expert on the reviews findings but there is now a strong indication that the Rosalie unit will be closing down within a few weeks, however, that has not been officially confirmed.

Deputy Murphy told Midwest News he is astounded and disturbed at the proposal. He says the happiness of the residents should be a top priority and the residents and their families all want the Unit to remain open, but it now looks unlikely.

A Roscommon TD says the future of the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea does not look good.

Fianna Fail Deputy Eugene Murphy was speaking following a briefing of Oireachtas members on Friday by General Manager of the HSE Tony Canavan about the implementation of the recommendations from the recent review of Roscommon mental-health services.

During the briefing public representatives raised again their concerns over the future of the Rosalie Unit. It follows a public meeting on the unit in February which was attended by around 300 people and families being told by Mr Canavan that there is no future for the unit.

Deputy Murphy says while Mr Cavavan did not specially say the unit will close at the briefing, he said patients are currently being clinically assessed.

Minister for Health Simon Harris is due to meet with public representatives shortly about the matter.